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KKWW
10-01-2013, 23:32
Hello all... my gear in all it's glowing glory. Unfortunately, lost some of my photos, so have substituted some from the internet. The main photo is an older one as I no longer have the X-10 V3 and PSU.

The amp, an MF A1001, all 30kg of it, is affectionately known within MF as 'The Beast'; class A up to 50 watts and there after class AB able to swing +/- 50 amps.

The PT Anniversary is a lovely deck, chosen over a Linn LP12 and the Michell Orbe/Gyro as it was fleet of foot and more even sounding to my ears. Originally fitted with a Roksan Tabriz and Corus Black; both were changed with the Bellaria and Dynavector cartridge which obviously lifted the performance even more.

The Delphini is a lovely phono stage (although would have loved to afford the dual mono version) with a smooth yet punchy sound.

I chose the MF 308CD player on the basis that again it was a smooth sound and the Tri-Vista DAC only served to improve the sound. However, I realise the CD player is wasted in this configuration and intend to sell it when funds allow with a dedicated CD transport.

After many years with a pair of B&W CDM 1SE, with internally upgraded wiring, I swapped them for a pair of Neat Ultimatum MFS and what a pair of speakers they are. Hugely dynamic and great bass punch and a sparkle to the treble that isn't tiring on the ears. They sit on steel plates, metal columns (which I fill with Atabytes) and a slate plinth. Oh... and not forgetting the Seismic Sinks.

To get the most of the system it's interconnected with Audioquest Cheetah which is silver. The speakers are bi-wired with two runs of QED Profile 12 each i.e. 4x5m in total! Mains is via an Isotek Nova GII

Unfortunately, the system is in boxes as the current house we live in doesn't have the room. Naturally, as we are now house hunting a decent sized living room is a priority for me... or even two living rooms.

Packing it is one heck of an exercise as there are 12 or so boxes in all and probably weighs in at about 150 kgs + How long has it taken me to get to this stage... probably about 20years. It's a system that I put together on the basis that if I were ever to upgrade any one component it was probably going to cost a lot to get that worthwhile audible improvement. Although there are better components out there, for me personally I am probably just at the point of diminishing returns.

petrat
10-01-2013, 23:57
That's a top system, Kim.
I ran a pair of MFS for several years, and think they are fabulous. For smaller/normal-sized UK rooms, they take a lot of beating. Only moved them on when I got a big room and big speakers.
Always been intrigued by the A1001. They seem to be 'keepers', so don't see them for sale often, but would love to hear them driving big Tannoys. Does the A1001 have a phono stage built in? I seem to remember a mm one being included.
Anyway, looks a great system.

dantheman91
11-01-2013, 06:35
Welcome Kim :eek: thats a system to be proud of

AlfaGTV
11-01-2013, 07:27
for me personally I am probably just at the point of diminishing returns.


Aren't we all at that point constantly? ;)

Seriously though, a lovely system! Get the impression that it is well thought out and has a clear vision of what to accomplish! :cool:

Hope you are able to enjoy it soon!

Regards /Micke

sq225917
11-01-2013, 07:50
Nice set-up, love that Anni.

KKWW
11-01-2013, 22:52
That's a top system, Kim.
I ran a pair of MFS for several years, and think they are fabulous. For smaller/normal-sized UK rooms, they take a lot of beating. Only moved them on when I got a big room and big speakers.
Always been intrigued by the A1001. They seem to be 'keepers', so don't see them for sale often, but would love to hear them driving big Tannoys. Does the A1001 have a phono stage built in? I seem to remember a mm one being included.
Anyway, looks a great system.

Yes the A10001 has an MM stage, back in the days when it was still considered worthwhile incorporating one into a amp with the onslaught of CD.

I love the A1001 sound because it has that slightly euphonic MF sound of the A1 of old albeit much 'beefier' which off-sets the starkness of CD and ironically the Anniversary. HiFi News compared it favourably many years ago against the equivalent Krell at many more times the price.

The MFS brings back the sparkle and love being driven hard so much so my neighbour at one time asked me whether I was doing some DIY one night. Hence I invested in some Seismic Sinks which actually benefited by 'lifting' the sound out even more. I made some from bicycle inner tubes first to see what the effect would be before buying a real pair of Sinks.

KKWW
11-01-2013, 22:58
Aren't we all at that point constantly? ;)

Seriously though, a lovely system! Get the impression that it is well thought out and has a clear vision of what to accomplish! :cool:

Hope you are able to enjoy it soon!

Regards /Micke

Ahhhh....we certainly are.... there are many memories I have with a friend sitting up auditioning interconnect cables, gingerly soldering new internal wires to speakers and wondering if we'd melted the dust cap, up-grading the MF X-10v3 and PSU comparing the good old Pioneeer stable platter with and without CD stabilisers and those funny green rings on CD... those were the good old fun days when one dreamed of very high end HiFi.

But yes... you're right we're always at the point of diminishing returns... all depends on how deep the pockets are in the end